NEW DELHI: Rising sea temperature due to climate change affected corals in India during the global coral bleaching events between 2014-17. Though most sites with coral reefs in the country saw such events, its impact was widespread along the Konkan coast and the Gulf of Mannar.

Sharing information on coral bleaching (turning corals white) events in India, the government while confirming “impact of rising sea temperature on corals” told Parliament last week that about 85% corals in Malvan (Maharashtra) were bleached and 8% of them became dead in 2015.

Coral bleaching occurs when the water is too warm. The event turns corals white and leaves them under stress, leading to mortality of some of them. The ones who survive the bleaching can, however, recover later under favourable climatic conditions. Corals, affected by the bleaching events during 2014-17, have shown sign of recovery even in India.

Referring to a report of the Tuticorin-based Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute (SDMRI), minister of state for environment Mahesh Sharma in a written response to a question in Lok Sabha said, “In Gulf of Mannar, over 24% corals were bleached and out of the total bleached corals, about 16% live corals were dead in 2016.”

Underlining the threat on coral reefs when the global average temperature has already risen to nearly 1 degree Celsius since the pre-industrial level (1850-1900), India has made a ‘Coral Bleaching Alert System’ operational and initiated central schemes to conserve it.

“The government is implementing a centrally sponsored scheme entitled ‘Conservation and Management of Mangroves and Coral Reefs’ at four sites namely Lakshadweep, Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar and Andaman & Nicobar Islands for restoration, monitoring, conservation and management of coral reefs,” Sharma said.

Some projects have been implemented in Gulf of Mannar and Sindhudurg coast focusing on rehabilitation of coral communities and setting up of artificial reefs.

“Some species of corals have been provided legal protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Coral reef areas are declared as ecologically sensitive under the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011, and the Island Protection Zone Notification, 2011,” the minister said.